Slide fastener



March 8, 1949. B. R. AUSTIN I SLIDE ms'rsman Filed Sept. 24, 194'? I 3 mMvlqyamlwlzb Patented Mar. 8, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SLIDEFASTENER Ben Ragan Austin, Nashville, Tenn. Appiication September 24,1947, Serial No. 775,817

Claims. 1

This invention relates to improvements in slide fasteners of the typecommonly referred to as zipper fasteners.

Slide fasteners of the type to which this invention pertains consistessentially of a pair of flexible tapes provided with scoops and aslider for meshing and unmeshing the scoops for respectively attachingand separating the flexible tapes. It is conventional to provide somemeans for securin the tapes together at what is commonly referred to asthe starting end of the fastener. This means ordinarily consists of apin on'the starting end of one of the tapes and some form of retainerfor the pin on the corresponding end of the other tape. It is notordinarily possible to separate the tapes at the starting end of theslide fastener except when the slider has reached its extreme limit ofmovement toward the starting end. Separation of the tapes at the thefastener inoperative for the reason that the slider can be moved towardthe starting end only while the scoops are meshed. There is, however, aslide fastener on the market in which the slider is capable of meshingthe scoops in either direction of its travel. Such fasteners arecommonly November 18, 1941. Arrangements of the type illustrated'in theforegoing patents are advantageous for use on wearing apparel such ascoats, jackets, and the like. These arrangements permit" completeclosure of the fastener or partial closure throughout any desiredportion of the length of the fastener. Many of the advantages of the useof buttons on such apparel are thus obtained without, however,sacrificing the advantages of slide fasteners. a

The present invention relates specifically to improved means forsecuring one of the tapes to the other at the starting end of a slidefastener and forpermitting intentional separation of the tapes at thestarting end of the fastener, irrespective of the position of theslider. The present; application may be said to relate to improvementsover the arrangements shown in my prior patents above mentioned. Thereare. several practical problems involved in the provision of re-.

leasable securing means for this purpose. Econstarting end of theconventional fastener renders omy of manufacture is a primeconsideration for the reason that slide fasteners must of necessity bemanufactured and sold at small cost. Simplicity of operation is also ofprimary importance for the reason that users are unwilling to underg0 aninvolved educational program for the purpose of learning to operate theslide fasteners. The presence of the flexible tapes at the starting endof the fastener precludes the use of conventional latches. Care mustalso be taken to avoid the use of securing means which would tend tocause excessive wear or fraying of the tapes. The use of latches or thelike involving small spring members hasproven impractical, not onlybecause of the excessive expense involved but also because of the factthat the spring members break or lose their resiliency after a period ofuse.

The objects of my invention are to provide releasable securing means forthe starting end of a slide fastener which is of simple and reliableconstruction, which can be manufactured at low cost, which will notcause excessive wear or fraying of the flexible tapes of the fastener,and which will operate satisfactorily throughout a long period of usewith a minimum tendency to get out of order.

For a complete understanding of my invention reference is had to thefollowing detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a front elevation view of one form of the inventionillustrating the scoops unmeshed and the tapes separated at both thestarting and terminal ends of the fastener;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary front elevation view of the starting end of theslide fastener illustrated in Fig. 1 and showing the starting and of theslide fastener in closed or secured relationship;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view looking in the direction of the arrows alongthe line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of-the case which forms an element of theslide fastener illustrated in Figs. 1. to 3; v I

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary front elevation view of the starting end of aslide fastener and illustrates a modified form of the invention;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view looking in the direction of the arrows alongthe line 6-6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. '7 is a perspective view of a case which forms an element of thestarting end securing means in the form of the invention illustrated inFigs. 5 and 6;

Fig. 8 is a top plan view of the blank which is used in forming the caseillustrated in Fig. '7; and

Fig. 9 is afront elevation view of a modified form of slide fastenerembodyin my invention.

The form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4 embodies a slidefastener having flexible textile tapes Ill and II which are providedwith opposed complementary rows of scoops i2 and I3. These scoops are ofthe self-healing type and are provided with a slider M which is capableof meshing the scoops in either direction of travel in the manner whichis well understood in the art. The flexible tapes l and I l are providedwith stops l6 at the terminal end of the fastener.

A pin I6 is secured to the flexible tape III at the starting end of thefastener. This pin I6 is clamped to or molded on the tape In in aconventional manner as is bestillustrated in Fig. 3. A block H isclamped or otherwise secured to the starting end of the flexible tapeII. The

, block i1 is provided with a recess l 8 in its surface which liesadjacent to the pin it. The recess I8 is for the purpose of receivingthelower end of the pin l6 when the starting end of the fastener is closedas illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3. 'A hollow case it is pivotally mountedon the block H by means of a rivet or other suitable securing means 28.The rivet 2ilis positioned in the approximate center of gravity of thecase is to avoid any undue tendency for the case to pivotunintentionally from a particular position of adjustment. There ispreferably some frictional resistance to pivotal movement between theinterior surfaces of the case l9 and the exterior surfaces of theblockii to assist in maintaining the case is in adjusted position.

The case is is provided with a wall 2! which is positioned adjacent therecess I8 in the block H. A slot 22 (as best shown in Fig. 4) is formedin the wall 2|. The slot 22 is of a width sufiicient to receive thelower end of the flexible tape Ill but is of insufficient width topermit passage of the pin it laterally therethrough.

When the slider l5 and the case is are in the positions illustrated inFig. 1, the slider may be. moved downwardly to the lower end of thefastener and the' pin It will be directed into the recess l8. The casel9 may then be pivoted in a counterclockwise direction to the positionillustrated in Fig. 2. The pin IE will thus be retained in the recess l8and the slider it may be moved upwardly to mesh the scoops. When thefastener has its tapes entirely separated, the slider it may be moved toits lowermost position on the row of scoops l3 and thepin It may then bepassed through the slider 84 into the recess 88. The slider l4 may thenbe moved upwardly in the conventional manner to effect partial 'orcomplete closing of the fastener. When the starting end of the fasteneris in the condition illustrated in Fig. 2, the case l9 may be pivotedclockwise to an extent suficient to release the pin it from the recessi8 and the starting end of the fastener may then be separated, asillustrated in Fig. 1.

The form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 5 to 8 is similar in manyrespects to that above described, the primary distinction being'that-in'- this second form-of the invention the case'is mounted thereon.With the exception of the slidable case, the elements in this formof"thfe' invention may be identical with the correspond 4 in Fig. 'l andis preferably formed by folding the blank illustrated in Fig. 8. Slots24 and 2| are provided in opposite side walls of the case 23. A rivet orother suitable means 28 extends through the block I I and through theslots 24 sufllcient firmness to provide some friction to relativemovement between the case 23 and the block ll.

One end wall of the case 23 is provided with a slot 21 for reception ofthe flexible tape H. The opposite end wall of the case 23 is providedwith a slot 28 for reception of the end of the flexible tape Hi. Theupper end of the slot 26 is preferably enlarged as indicated at 29 topermit the pin It to be inserted laterally into the recess l8 when thecase 23 is in its lowermost position. It will be apparent from theforegoing that the starting end of the slide fastener may be Joined orseparated while the case 23 is in its lowermost position and that thepin it will be retained in the recess is when the case is in itsuppermost position. v

Fig. 9 illustrates one form of the invention as applied to a moreconventional type of slide fastener, that is the type in which thescoops and slider are so constructed that the slider is able to mesh thescoops in only'one direction of movement. The arrangement at thestarting end of the fastener, that is the block, the pin, and the case,are identical with the arrangement illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4, and forthat reason the same reference numerals have been used. However, asillustrated, the complementary rows of scoops 3B and 3| and the slider32 are of such construction that the slider could not be moved towardthe starting end of the fastener when the fastener is in the conditionillustrated in Fig. 9. For this reason, the portion of the upper end ofthe tape indicated by the reference numeral 33 has no scoops appliedthereto. The stop 34 on the tape c5, slidable on the blocks rather thanbeing pivot-ally ifl'aving thus described my invention, I claim:

ing elements in the form of the "inventionabove vf described, and forthat reason the same reference numerals are used. The block" with its"recess i8 is secured to the starting endof the tape il l. i 4

The pin i6 is secured to the starting'end 'ofth'e tape Ill. The slidingcase 23 is best'illustrated' H is so positioned .that when the slider 32is moved against this stop, the portion 33 of the tape IQ is within theslider and can be laterally withdrawn therefrom. This permits completeseparation of the two tapes and theslider32 may be moved to the startingend of the tape H while it is completely out of engagement with the tapeand the row of scoops 39. Somewhat comparable arrangements at theterminal ends of the tapes are illustrated and described in my priorpatents above mentioned. -I have found it advisable to clamp a'plasticor metal'sheet 35 to the portion 33"of the tape it to prevent undue wearor fraying of this portion of the tape during its withdrawal 'fror'n theslider 82 in the manner .a manner-identical to, the operation describedin connection withFigs. 1 to 4.

. A retainer for the pin on the starting end of th first of two flexibletapes of a slide fastener,

said retainer comprising a block secured to the starting endof thesecond of said tapes and having a"reces's iri' one side for reception-ofsaid pin,

.a-ho1low7cas niounted on said block and having awall afdfjacent saidrecess for retaining said pin ins'aid-recss, said wall having a slottherein for receiving the starting end of said first tape while said pinis in said recess, and said case bein movable on said block to retractsaid wall from said recess to permit withdrawal of said pin from saidretainer.

2. A retainer for the pin on the starting end of the first'of twoflexible tapes of a slide fastener, said retainer comprising a blocksecured to the starting end of the second of said tapes and having arecess in one side for reception of said pin, a hollow case mounted onsaid block and having a wall adjacent said recess for retaining said pinin said recess, said wall having a slot therein for receiving thestarting end of said first tape while said pin is in said recess, andsaid case being pivotally movable on said block to retract said wallfrom said recess to permit withdrawal of said pin from said retainer.

3. A retainer for the pin on the starting end of the first of twoflexible tapes of a slide fastener, said retainer comprising a blocksecured to the starting end of the second of said tapes and having arecess in one side for reception of said pin, a hollow case mounted onsaid block and having a wall adjacent said recess for retaining said pinin said recess, said wall having a slot therein for receiving thestarting end of said first tape while said pin is in said recess, andsaid case being slidably movable on said block to retract said wall fromsaid recess to permit withdrawal of said pin from said retainer.

4. A retainer for the pin on the starting end of the first of twoflexible tapes of a slide fastener,

said retainer comprising a block secured to the starting end of thesecond of said tapes, a hollow case mounted on said block and having awall laterally spaced from said block, said wall being provided with aslot therein for reception of the starting end of the first of saidtapes while said pin is positioned between said wall and said block,said case being movable on said block to retract said wall fromengagement with said pin to permit lateral withdrawal of said pin fromsaid retainer.

5. In a slide fastener of the self-healing type having complementaryrows of fastening elements mounted on flexible tapes, a slider forsecuring and separating said rows of fastener elements and means forreleasably securing the starting ends of said rows together, said meanscomprising a pin on the starting end of the first of said tapes, a blockon the starting end of the second of said tapes, said block having arecess in one side for reception of said pin, a hollow case mounted onsaid block and having a wall adjacent said recess for retaining said pinin said recess, said Wall having a slot therein for'receiving thestarting end of said first tape while said pin is in said recess, saidcase being movable on said block to retract said wall from said recessto permit withdrawal of said pin.

BEN RAGAN AUSTIN.

No references cited.

